Police arrest suspect in Friday carjacking at Buckhead Whole Foods

Atlanta police and the Georgia State Patrol have arrested a man they believe carjacked a woman at the Whole Foods market in Buckhead around 10:48 a.m. Friday before leading police on a vehicle pursuit through Midtown that ended with an accident in southwest Atlanta..

Overturned carjacked SUV in southwest Atlanta at end of police chase.

Police were alerted to a carjacking in progress at West Paces Ferry and Peachtree roads at 10:48 a.m. The victim was returning to her vehicle in the Whole Foods parking lot when she was approached by a male with a box cutter. The male robbed the victim and left in her vehicle.

On duty veteran Zone 2 officer and veteran neighborhood patrol officer Steve Shultz was nearby and quickly located the vehicle. The suspect fled in the vehicle and Officer Shultz gave chase.

The suspect drove all around the W. Wesley, Howell Mill, Peachtree Battle, Northside Drive, Collier Road area, before ending up on Peachtree Road and traveling into Midtown and then getting on the expressway traveling south. Officer Shultz Kept in pursuit of the vehicle.

A Georgia State Patrol Trooper caught up with Officer Shultz and the vehicle and initiated a PIT Maneuver on the carjacked vehicle, causing it to spin out and flip over. Nobody was injured as a result of the crash, and no city vehicles were damaged in the pursuit, according to APD spokesperson Greg Lyon.

The 22-year-old victim Morgan Watson, who had been left in the Whole Foods parking lot, sustained several minor lacerations after struggling with the suspect but nothing serious. She was treated on scene.

Police report that the suspect, Donald L. Bryant, 48, has been charged with felony obstruction of officers, aggravated assault, armed robbery, hit and run, reckless driving, fleeing/attempting to elude police, and not driving in the proper lane. Zone 2 Detectives will be attempting to link the suspect to other crimes from the area.

Neighborhood patrol commander Lt. Jeff Baxter, commended Officer Shultz for doing a great job in locating, chasing and apprehending the suspect Friday while on duty. On Friday night Officer Shultz will be working off duty patrol in the Springlake/Wildwood neighborhoods.